Trolls Opener Ends in Overtime Loss

The season opener for the 2017 men’s soccer team was an exciting game at the University of Michigan-Dearborn (Livonia, Michigan) that went down to the final seconds of a second overtime before a winner was determined. A number of the goals were dramatically scored late in the periods. The Trolls took a commanding lead at 3-0, but UM-Dearborn evened the score by the end of regulation. The teams remained deadlocked through the first overtime period and the first nine minutes of the second overtime period. UM-Dearborn found the net in the final minute of the game to give the Trolls the 4-3 loss.

The Trolls controlled the game in the first period with 11 shots while holding UM-Dearborn to three. The team’s attack paid off in the final minutes of the period. Jake DeRuiter put Trinity on the board when he scored in the 40th minute on a pass from Fekadu Timmermans. Before the half ended the Trolls struck again when Getenet Timmermans scored to give the team a 2-0 lead.

Trinity continued to attack and took a huge lead in the 60th minute when G. Timmermans scored again. Ten minutes later UM-Dearborn marked the scoreboard when they converted a penalty kick. In the 71st minute they increased the pressure when they scored again to make it 3-2.

The Trolls one goal lead held until the final five minutes of the game when UM-Dearborn found the net once again to tie the score at 3-3. With the tie the game pushed into overtime.

In the first ten minute extra period the Trolls had five shots and UM-Dearborn had one, yet neither team scored. The teams continued to battle through the second overtime and just as it looked as if the game would end in a tie, UM-Dearborn scored with 32 seconds left to end the game.

Overall, Trinity had 27 shots of which 11 were on goal. UM-Dearborn ended with 14 shots. Freshman Mathis Muller was in the goal with three saves.

The Trolls have their home opener on August 22 at 4:30 pm against Clarke University.